Excavating apparatus



3 l 6 t 4 e 2 e 8 h a 5 S 9 t 11 e e h S 4 3 m2 A9 R1 A SP E A me C SW9 Dwd A l X F INVENTOR ATTORNEY WITNESS:

Dec. 9, 1924.

WlTNESS:

1,518,463 ,PEES

EXCAVATING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 22, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 2' flan/a 5,0665,

\ INVENTOR Dec. 9, 1924. 1,518,463

D. SPEES EXCAVATING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 22, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet s [7mm Spam.

INVENTOR WITNESS:

ATTORNEY D. SPEES EXCAVATING APPARATUS flQheets-Sheet 46 Filed Dec. .2, 1923 a,

INVENTOR ATTORNEY WITNESS:

Patented Bee. 9, 1924-,

PATENT DANA. SPEES, 0F SHEBOYGAN FALLS, WISCONSIN.

EIKCAVATING APPARATUS.

Application filed December 22, 1923.

means for removing marl from lake beds,

for elevating the material, and automatically dumping it at the point desired.

A further object is to provide a shovel or scraper supported. and moved by cables controlled by winding drums, with means for automatically tilting the shovel when loading, and means for automatically dumping the shovel when moved by the cables to the desired position.

A further object is to provide an appara tus of this type adapted to travel on an inclined track supported by a toufer, the stationary and movable elements cooperating in handling the material.

A still further object is to provide means for economically handling sand, gravel, or other material, but especially adapted for the loading of marl, and for its removal from the water, in the manner specified.

WVith the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of elements described, illustrated and claimed, it being understood that modifications may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows the shovel in side elevation and in normal position; Figure 2 is also a side elevation, the bucket being in loading position; Figure 3 is a similar view of the bucket or shovel after loading; Figure at shows the track, shovel and hoisting apparatus, in side elevation, the shovel being in dumping position; Figure 5 is an end view of part of the tower or structure supporting the elevated part of the track; Figure 6 is a top plan view of the hoisting apparatus; Figure 7 is a plan view of the shovel; Figure 8 is a detail in perspective showing the forked end portion of the U-shaped frame which provides the legs or runners.

The shovel or scraper 10 includes a curved bottom 11, and a rear upwardly and forwardly extending wall 12. The forward curve of the upper portionof the rear Serial No. 682,232.

wall causes the rear portion of the load to free itself first, in the dumping opera tion, the more or less plastic mass doubling on itself when leaving the shovel. The openings or slits 13 permit of the entrance of air, thereby facilitating the discharging operation. The side walls of the shovel are shown at 14. and 15, and their forward portions are curved at 16.

Rearwardly extending arms 18, 19, are rigidly secured to the side walls, at 20, 21, and an upper transverse bar 22 is secured to these walls by any suitable devices 23. The ends of bar 22 project sufficiently to engage the inclined elements of the track referred to below.

Legs 25, 26, are formed with a trans versely extending end portion 27, the latter constituting the central element of a- U member, the free ends of which are forked at 28, 29. Adjacent to the forked ends is a transverse brace 30, and the legs are pivoted at 31, 32 to the ends of arms 18, 19, so that this U member or leg member constitutes a frame adapted to swing with reference to the shovel or scraper.

' Two upper chains, 33, 34 are connected with element 27 of the leg member, and their forward ends are connected with chain 35, active in the loading operation.

Draft chains 37, 38, are connected with the shovel at 39, 40, and chains 35, 3'7, 38 are connected together above the forward portion of the shovel at the point 41, where a ring or other device 42 permits of the connection of draft cable 43. Cable a l, for the return of the shovel to starting posi tion, when loading, is connected with the lower part of the shovel at the rear thereof, and at the point 45. A. spreading bar 46 keeps chains 37, 38 properly spaced with reference to the shovel.

A stationary structure or tower 50 includes a frame of the form shown, or any suitable form, and a track for supporting the shovel as it moves toward the top of the tower, comprises rails 51, 52, inclined as shown, and spaced to permit the shovel to pass between them,the transverse bar 22 sliding over the rails. Stops 54, retain the bar and the shovel when drawn to the required height by the cable 43.

The cables are controlled by a winch having two drums 57, 58, each provided with a clutch element 59 slidable on shaft 60,

permitting either drum to wind its cable, independently of the other. The cables 43, 4 .41: pass over pulleys 61, 62 at the top of the tower, and cable .44- passes over pulley 63 mounted in a bail frame 64 connected with an anchor cable 65, leading to any suitable point. Cable is connects with the shovel at- 45, as previously indicated, and draft cable 43 moves the load from the lake bed to the point of discharge above the foot of the tower.

The rotation of drum 57 and the winding of cable 4% moves the shovel to the loading point in the lake, the legs 25, 26 being folded beneath the shovel. Cable 43 pays out at this time, or during the aforesaid movement. The clutch is thrown for drum 58 (the other drum being released), the pull on cable 43 causes chain to first become taut, and the forked ends 28, 29 of the legs engage the lake bed. The forward end of the shovel tilts downwardly, the pull being from the rear of the leg frame, thereby loading the shovel. The rear end of the leg frame now moves upwardly and forwardly, because cable 43 continues to move forwardly and the forked members still engage the lake bed.

Owing to the relative length of the chains 35, 37, 38 and the forward tilting of the upper (or rear) end of the leg frame, chain 35 becomes slack in the position of the devices shown in Figure 3, and draft chains 37, 38 become taut, so that the shovel is raised and carried along by the continued winding of cable 43,the legs now extending rearwardly.

Upon reaching the inclined track, transverse bar 22 engages the. rails or timbers thereof, and the shovel is elevated, the bar passing over the upper stops 5%, and engaging the latter,when the winding drum 58 is stopped. The forward end of the shovel being held up only by cable 43, drum 58 is released by the clutch, and the cable relaxes, permitting the forward end of-the shovel to descend by gravity, for dumping the load. In this operation, the shovel tilts about an axis defined bv bar 22. now constituting the only support.

lVhen the clutch is again thrown in for drum 57, the shovel will move down the track. and the forked ends of the swinging legs will engage the ground first, and being thus held while the shovel continues to move, the legs will fold under the shovel, and the device will be drawn into the water with the various elements automatically set in the required position for further operationthat is, for loading.

What I claim is:

1. In a device ofthe class described, a shovel, legs mounted for swinging movement with reference to the shovel, the forward ends of the legs being adapted to engage the ground, and the legs being connected at the rear to form a U-shaped structure providing runners between which the shovel is mounted, means for moving the shovel forwardly, and means supporting the forward end of the shovel. said forward movement causing the shovel to swing with reference to the legs and assume loading position.

2. In a device of the class described, a shovel, a transverse bar connected therewith, a track for supporting the bar, legs mounted for swinging movement with reference to the shovel, and the legs being connected at the rear to form a U-shaped structure providing runners between which the shovel is mounted, means for moving the shovel forwardly, and means for supporting the forward end of the shovel. the engagement of the legs with the ground causing the shovel to tilt to loading position, and therelease of the means last named permitting the forward end of the shovel to drop to discharge position.

3. In a device of the class described, a shovel, legs mounted on the shovel for swinging movement with reference thereto, and the legs being connected at the rear to form a U-shaped structure providing runners between which the shovel is mounted, a flexible device connected wit-h the rear ends of the legs, a flexible device connected with the forward end of the shovel and with the flexible device first named, a draft cable connected with all of these flexible devices, and a cable connected with the shovel for returning the latter to loading position, subsequent to movement by the draft cable to dumping position.

4. In a device of the class described, a shovel, arms extending rearwardly therefrom, a U-shaped frame partly inclosing the shovel and including combined runners and legs, these elements being pivoted to the arms and adapted to swing with reference to the shovel when the legs engage the ground, and means for tilting the shovel forwardly and downwardly, said means including flexible devices connected with the forward end of the shovel and with the rear portions of the legs.

5. In a device of the class described, a shovel, a loading device pivoted for swinging movement with reference to the shovel, and flexible devices for moving the shovel to loading position and dumping position, said flexible devices including a plurality of chains connected respectively with the load- .ing device and the forward part of the shovel, and a draft element connected with all of the chains, the length of the chains and the position of the loading device and shovel determining the chains to be rendered active as draft chains. H

6. In a device of the classe described, a

' shovel, a bar extending transversely of the shovel and laterally therefrom, a track supporting the bar and. shovel and permitting sliding movement thereof, a loading ele 10 curve upwardly and forwardly, flexible means connected with the loading element and the shovel at different Doints and imparting forward movement to the shovel, and a flexible device for imparting movement to the shovel in the omoosite direction.

In testimony whereof l affix my signature.

DANA SPEES. 

